DMK to hold protest meetings from July 31 to August 2

Decrying the personal attack on its party chief M Karunanidhi by All India Anna Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (AIADMK) ministers and 'denial' of adequate opportunities in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK) on Tuesday announced holding protest meetings from July 31 to August 2.

Hours after the DMK members were evicted from the House for the fourth time, making them ineligible to attend the rest of the session, the MLAs met under party chief M Karunanidhi where a resolution was passed to this effect. The resolution was released by the party.

It said that the party members had given a number of mentions seeking permission to raise issues like power cut, water shortage and problems of farmers among others in the Assembly, but they were "ignored" and "opportunities denied".

"Ministers are keen on making indecent personal attacks against Kalaignar (Karunanidhi) which are not prevented by the Chief Minister (J Jayalalithaa) or the Speaker (P Dhanapal).

They encourage them to speak so and do not allow DMK members to respond," it said while criticising their repeated eviction from the House. To condemn this, DMK will hold protest meetings under the title 'Perils of Democracy in Tamil Nadu Assembly" with Karunanidhi leading it in Chennai on July 31, the MLAs resolved.

Protests in district headquarters will be held on August 1 and 2, it said.